Water of Life

Glenmorangie and Modus Operandi Boilermaker Dinner

Webster’s Bar

Sydney, Australia

August 1, 2018

Zanzibar, the ole faithful Newtown institution and after hour haunt, was a reliable drinking hall that had its doors wide open for the remnants of late nights. Its site has been taken over by Webster’s Bar, an operation that not only spruced it up a notch but also endeavoured to pay homage to the narrative and historic context of what was initially established by John and Eliza Webster as The Newtown Store, which gave birth to how the suburb was eventually named.

Comprised of three  levels, with the sophisticated prohibition style speakeasy themed bar and grill being the focus of tonight’s Boilermaker Dinner extravaganza, the top floor proffers views across busy King Street from the coveted astroturfed rooftop backyard bar and the ground level being an industrial, exposed brick, steampunk-esque saloon of sorts, Webster’s Bar appeal is the focus on bourbons and an eclectic selection of quality whiskies, including drops that are extremely hard to spot in regular bars.

The Glenmorangie Whisky / Modus Operandi Beer Boilermaker Dinner the middle floor with its low lighting, a working fireplace, arched stained glass windows and an array of secluded corners, proved to be a most suitable setting for what was about to ensue: A cuisine under the helm of Executive Chef Mark Cukeric that is dedicated to mainlining produce from terra australis, complemented by a melange of four rare expressions (and one of the core range) of Scotland Highlands Glenmorangie Distillery’s never not intriguing whiskies as well as three of the core range and two limited release beers from Sydney’s boutique Modus Operandi brewery.

Hosted by a tandem of the Spirits Ambassador for Moët Hennessy, Garth Forster, who took the guests of the evening through a guided tour through the history of the Glenmorangie Distillery and its unique distillation process, and a representative of accolade decorated Modus Operandi entertaining the sold out audience with the stories behind the inception of what materialized in our beer glasses over the evening.

The liquid emissions were not only matched with each other but rested on a foundation of a curated three coursed dinner, the cooking process of each course of which was infused with both the beer and the whisky.

Winners of the evening on the beer front were:

Modus Operand limited Former Tenant Red IPA: Describing it as “hoppy” would be an understatement par excellence – it is more than an apt homage to the ganja grower who inhabitated their site before the brewery was established, the fact that it is topped off with a caramel sweetness does not hurt either.

The Sonic Prayer IPA, a liquid tribute to the first album of psychedelic band Earthless: A delicious, citrusy and fruity melange of English and German malts resting on a bed of American and Kiwi hops. Let us not forget the always reliable MODUS Pale Ale and while the darker stouty brews received much praise on our table, they seemed a bit heavy especially as they were positioned towards the end of the evening. I personally find IPAs to be the perfect beer for a Boilermaker liaison.

Now, Glenmorangie.

I have been known for finding it hard to refuse a dram of their voluptuous Quinta Ruban Cask and dessert-like Nectar d’Or, but tonight’s offerings easily blew them out of the water:

Allow me to linger on two standouts:

Dornoch.

A limited Glenmorangie release, matured in classic bourbon and Amontillado casks giving it a palate reminiscent of caramel and nuts based on a fruity, softly spiced nose and framed with a peaty depth. Gimme peat and I am in. Delicious.

The highlight of the night was strategically placed at the end of the night: Glenmorangie’s Signet.

Rich.

Melting sweetness.

Explosions of spice.

Sherry-esque and hints of bitterness.

What might sound oxymoronic and mutually exclusive are the contrasts that don’t clash but form the fusion of deliciousness that Signet masters.

While the Signet was the cherry on top of a great evening, it was amplified by the main course that preceded it: Overnight Dornoch Whisky cured braised beef cheeks with Dijon whipped potatoes, spiced beetroot puree, fried Brussel sprouts and hazelnut butter. Without trying too hard, the symphonies on a plate not only accentuated the drinks of the evening but the nuances of hearty and more subtle flavours was a thing of beauty that crowned an expertly curated evening at one of Sydney’s most promising newer venues.

Apart from regular special events not unlike the one we had the pleasure of visiting, peeping Webster’s Bar for its Whisky Wednesdays, where you get twenty percent off and can zero in on those rare drops you’ve always wanted to try, should be on anyone’s radar who is remotely into quality spirits - one of which is Webster’s own limited edition collaboration with Woodford Reserve that can only be obtained within the confines of their bar.

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Photos by @k.a. vv

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Picasso and Truth: From Cubism to Guernica (The A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts)

T.J. Clark

Princeton University Press

Unsurprisingly enough, there is no shortage of books and view on the one of the most prominent artists of the modern art era. However, an art historian like T.J. Clark, who manages to entice the recipients to rethink the context of the oeuvre of canonical artists and thereby offering a fresh perspective is rarely to be found.

Guided by Nietzsche and with a miniscule approach to analysing contexts and content of Picasso’s emissions from the 1920s-30s, Clark traces Picasso’s range from the light-hearted cubism to the other end of the spectrum, i.e. something more sinister in nature, and infused his elaborations with his wit and an eloquence that peppered with the addition of lesser known titbits about Picasso make it an entertaining read that is analytical yet feels less sterile than other books on the matter.

Reading Picasso and Truth is not meant to be a definitely exhaustive interpretation but more of guided tour through samples of Picasso’s both famous and not so much known body of work that serves as the foundation for a discussions on individual paintings, which inspire thought processes.

As with all books, one should always put the content into perspective and not read it as gospel no matter how academic the elaborations are portrayed to be, which is particularly the case here when Clark’s tone seems to question Picasso’s artistic merits.

Apart from Clark’s lectures on Picasso’s Blue Room, Guitar and Mandolin, Young Girls Dancing in Front of a Window, Painter & his Model, Women by the Sea, the thoughtful and considerate focus of the concluding chapter is centred around Guernica, Picasso's 1937 masterpiece which is on permanent display in Madrid at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia.

There will never be a singular book that offers a full grasp on an artist of Picasso’s proportions, but Picasso and Truth adds an important stone to the mosaic of an artist that was insistent on denying audiences of his work any interpretation and who made arrogant statements instead.

An eloquent book that deciphers Picasso’s complexity with aphoristic, light descriptions, astute observations and insight.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - In concert with the SSO

ICC Theatre

Sydney, Australia

July 27, 2018

Given the immense attention to detail and curation of the Star Wars soundtracks, presenting screenings of the classic incarnations along with the power, nuances and intensity that only a symphony orchestra in a live environment can convey, it was not further wondrous that Sydney’s ICC Theatre was nearly sold out for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of conductor extraordinaire Hamish McKeish, delivered a live score to The Empire Strikes Back.

Attracting a diverse crowds comprised of all walks of life, ages and of course a substantial base of die-hard dressed up Star Wars aficionados, the event was infused with a very special and thrilling atmosphere and sense of anticipation – part of what you would usually get at a philharmonic concert, part pop event, part huge scale movie screening.

The foyer catered to fan moments, with ample opportunities to pose with and get a photo taken with an illustrate cast of Star Wars characters – witnessing an army of Stormtroopers parade by or bumping into Chewbacca and Darth Vader has yet to lose its allure.

The common denominator of the evening was the appreciation for the legendary music created by John Williams.

Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back was the first movie I ever saw at the cinema and it has had a massive impact on me as a pre-teenager.  While I certainly remembered the most iconic aspects of the movies along with the classic lines of dialogue, in this new context it felt like I experienced the story and performances in an enhanced manner for the first time.

It is quite astonishing how well the movie worked in tandem with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra channelling their alchemy – with the dialogue in sub-titles for those instances in which the overwhelming sound of the orchestra drowned out some of the soundtrack, one never missed a beat.

What made the evening for me was the fact that the event enables audiences to hear these scores in a new way – a way that usually can go unnoticed in the cinema, specifically when it comes to the brass section amplifying the battle sequences and the overall storytelling aspect of the movie.

An evening that was testament not only to the timeless visionary oeuvre of George Lucas, his characters and the Oscar-winning score by John Williams, but also the abilities of conductor Hamish McKeish, a self-professed Star Wars fan, who was able to hit the sweet spot when it comes to paying homage but still transport a legacy into the current time and frame it into a context that makes for an engaging event for all ages.

Word around the campfire is that the next instalment of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra delivering a live score for a Star Wars episode is planned for early 2019 – given the interest, securing tickets early on is advisable.

Men's Society

Guide to Social Protocol, Necessary Skills, Superior Style, and Everything Else That Will Set You Apart From The Pack

Murdoch Books

Men’s Society, founded by Hugo and Bella Middleton in 2012 in London, is an accolade-decorated product design brand from the United Kingdom whose focus it is to provide the male gender with geschmaecklerische, at time quirky and finely handmade accessories and grooming products, with their credo being that aestheticism is equally as important as longevity.

Their Guide to Social Protocol is an advisory book shedding light on what some perceive as common sense and most seem to lack these days, i.e. etiquette, manners style and skills to navigate one’s way through this modern world’s era vulgaris.

Recommendations and advice is presented in an approachable, tongue-in-cheek manner that is refreshingly devoid of preachy schoolmaster’s demeanour. The book also does not lack real-world application and is not merely a “how-to” guide to defray one’s existence as a stylized James Bond clone.

The book sheds light on all sorts of grooming, basic knowledge on tipples, manners, courtesy, recommendations on essential books, films and music and other basic skills a man should be able to master.

The fact that it is less a glorification of testosterone and machismo and more a kick in the butt to step one’s game up, makes it a book I can see a lot of ladies subtly gifting their other halves.

Sonos House

40 Queen St

Sydney, Australia

July 10-21, 2018

Music.

Sounds.

Sonic pleasures.

High-fidelity.

How do you listen to music?

Why would you want to invest in gear to enjoy music at a different plain?

The people behind Sonos beseelt with the tenet to take a different approach to activism and sonic culture, filled a landmark Sydney home with a two-week program of cool tunes, compelling conversation, exhibitions, product experiences and storytelling with change-makers from the worlds of music and culture for audiences to turn off, tune in, and, well, listen better.

Saying that the range of offerings was diverse would be an understatement par excellence: The range of offerings was as eclectic as it was diverse, to say the very least, running the gamut from industry veterans, artists and influencers sharing their insights to spirited discussions about music-centric issues along with immersive workshops and listening experiences that were enhanced by Sonos devices, the quality of which did not need to be advertised or talked up as their emissions spoke for them.

A beautiful former Masonic Lodge, tobacco factory and grand private residence was morphed via employing the services of House of Orange and HK Living into the home of everything Sonos.

A home that doubled as a work base and co-work space during the day where you’d have coffee in the salon or alternatively congregate in the great hall with beautiful images of emerging female talent, each of with accompanied with an elaboration about the artist’s “Battlehymn”, i.e. a meaningful piece of music (the collection of which comprise a curated playlist downloadable via Spotify), and served as the backdrop for play, after work drinks, performances and Q & A sessions once the sun settled.

It was refreshing to see that Sonos’ new grants program is aimed at supporting activist organisations fighting censorship and inequality, promoting music education and driving community engagement in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) in a bid to inspire the next generation of artists, scientists and engineers.

Apart from serious discussions, the occasion of Sonos House was also used as a platform for the launch of their sound platform Sonos Beam.

There is no shortage of brands trying their hand in creating pop-up experiences, most of which feel like a glorified advertisement come to live.

What Sonos managed through careful curation and full understanding of their role as both an amplifier and enhancer – both literally and figuratively – was to create a third place that proved to be fertile ground for ideas,, inspiration and immersion and a forum for listening better – not merely to music but to the issues surrounding it in a holistic manner.

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Photos by @k.a. vv